Woman Un-bent
A friend sent this poem because it reminded them of our work, my passionate privilege of ennobling women. Over the years I’ve sat with too many women “bent” by life and kept bent by the Church. I read the poem over and over, letting it twist and turn, float and sink. The more I read it the more truth I saw and the heavier it became. The weight of women being bent can be too much. The Church trying to keep her that way - unacceptable. Then, of course, my being me, I had to research it. The poet. The people writing on the poem, etc. which just enhanced my mind all the more. So I’d like to share with you something that brought tears to me. Let her twist and turn, sit and sink and then rise up and do something about it.
Woman Un-Bent (Luke 13:10-17)
by Irene Zimmerman
That Sabbath day as always
she went to the synagogue
and to the place assigned her
right behind the grill where,
the elders had concurred,
she would block no one’s view,
she could lean her heavy head,
and (though this was not said)
she’d give a good example to
the ones who stood behind her.
That day, intent as always
on the Word (for eighteen years
she’d listened thus), she heard
Authority when Jesus spoke.
Though long stripped of forwardness,
she came forward, nonetheless,
when Jesus summoned her.
“Woman, you are free
of your infirmity,” he said.
The leader of the synagogue
worked himself into a sweat
as he tried to bend the Sabbath
and the woman back in place.
But she stood up straight and let
God’s Glory touch her face.
———-
For years I’ve loved this story in the Bible – unique to Luke’s gospel. And for years I’ve loved this poem written by Irene Zimmerman.
“But she stood up straight and let
God’s Glory touch her face.”
That line brings me close to tears.
I’m not sure why…
I suspect it’s partly because I’ve known so many people who’ve spent their lives bent over-looking at the ground.
Sometimes we’re bent over because we’re afraid. We’ve been shamed into thinking that for some reason we’re not good enough, we’re not worthy, not valuable…and so we don’t dare lift our heads.
Sometimes we’re bent over because we’re compelled to by someone else. We’ve been ‘kept in our place’ by those with power or privilege…
Jesus sees a woman bent over for 18 years in the back of the synagogue and he calls her forward.
He touches her, and says, “No more – you are free!” And she stands up straight. Jesus is in the business of setting people free. Jesus is in the business of releasing us from bondage-from whatever it is that keeps our heads down- addiction, sexual abuse, domestic violence, Jesus says, “No more – you are free!”
Whatever it is which keeps us from claiming a place as one of God’s loved and chosen people - from racism, sexism, homophobia, Jesus says, ‘No more – you are free!”
You are free!
Stand and feel God’s glory touch your face. – Pastor Jeanette
“Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Vestibulum id ligula porta felis euismod semper.”